Biggest Political and Religious Events in the Philippines

• Ninoy Aquino’s burial, August 31, 1983. Two million people marched from the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.
• October 1983. First anti-Marcos rally in Makati, where thousands of office workers and businessmen poured out of their buildings to join marchers along Ayala Avenue.
• “Tarlac to Tarmac,” late 1983. A march initiated by the August Twenty-One Movement from Ninoy’s home province to what was then the Manila International Airport, where he was assassinated. The crowd peaked at the boundary of Meycauayan and Valenzuela towns along MacArthur Highway in Bulacan, where rallyists were blocked by uniformed men.
• First anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s death on August 21, 1984 at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by 500,000 people.
• Corazon Aquino’s miting de avance for the snap elections on February 8, 1986 at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by 500,000 people.
• Marcos’ miting de avance for the snap elections on February 1986 at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by 100,000 people
• Tagumpay ng Bayan rally to celebrate EDSA victory. February 15, 1986 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park attended by more than 500,000 people.
• EDSA People Power Revolution of February 22 to 25, 1986. Camp Crame to White Plains, a low of 300,000 and a peak of 500,000
• Burial of labor leader Rolando Olalia, November 1986. March from University of the Philippines-Diliman to Mandaluyong Cemetery, 145,000.
• El Shaddai 3rd Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 48th birthday from August 22 to 23, 1987, It rained heavily throughout the affair, but the estimated two hundred thousand attendees stayed until it ended in the morning.
• El Shaddai 4th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 49th birthday from August 20 to 21, 1988 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila where an estimated half a million people packed the venue. It was the biggest crowd so far gathered by a particular group in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Philippines. The testimonies on the healing and miraculous power of Psalm 91 inspired some prayer-partners to have the Psalm printed on handkerchiefs. These handkerchiefs have become an instrument of God's healing and miracles among the prayer-partners worldwide.
• El Shaddai 5th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and it's leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 50th birthday, August 19 to 20, 1989 at the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium, Vito Cruz Street, Malate Manila with over half a million people from all over the Philippines to take part in an overnight activity of praise and worship dedicated to El Shaddai. Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, together with some priests from the different parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila, led the Holy Mass.
• El Shaddai 8th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and it's leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 53rd birthday on August 22-23, 1992 at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City, more than one-and-a-half million prayer-partners attended the affair. His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos, gave his greetings to the congregation.
• El Shaddai 9th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and it's leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 54th birthday on August 21-22, 1993 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila with 2 million people. The crowd filled the Rizal Park from Taft Avenue to Manila Bay at the back of the grandstand. The affair featured the mass wedding of two hundred thirty couples who had previously lived together without the blessing of the Church. During his healing message, Bro. Mike launched the "Love Our Police Movement," believing that through the Filipinos' love and faith in the members of the Philippine National Police, the nation will change for the better.
• El Shaddai 10th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 55th birthday from August 20 to 21, 1994 at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila with 3 to 10 million people. The participants crowded the 61-hectare park and adjacent areas-Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, UN Avenue, T.M. Kalaw St., Port Area, and Jones Bridge. Some of them came to the venue as early as three days before the event. They came not only from Metro Manila, but also from Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, the Ilocos Region, Quezon, the Bicol Region, Sorsogon, Leyte, and other distant provinces. Also present were members from different overseas chapters of the Foundation.
• 11th Christmas Overnight Celebration Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai on December 24 to 25, 1994 at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila. The close to three million attendees feasted on thousands of roasted calves, pigs and chickens. In the early morning, thousands of doves for peace and prosperity were released by the attendees.
• Pope John Paul II’s second visit for the 10th World Youth Day at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila on January 14 to 15, 1995 with 1 to 10 million people. 
• El Shaddai 11th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 56th birthday at the PNCC-PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City on August 19 to 20, 1995, Three days before the event, tents of sack, plastic and umbrellas had already mushroomed in and around the venue. The members and followers of the Foundation from the provinces arrived in buses, trucks, jeepneys, and other vehicles festooned with streamers bearing the name "El Shaddai." In view of the huge numbers of people coming to the venue, the Buendia Avenue Extension was closed and a big number of those who came had to stay in their vehicles, go to the rooftops of nearby buildings, or sit on the sidewalks and simply monitor the celebration on their portable TV and radio sets. His Eminence Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, officiated a mass wedding of one hundred eighty-two couples.
• Twelfth Christmas Overnight Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai on December 23 to 24, 1995 at the PEA Grounds in Pasay City. Close to three million people stood witness to the blessed event as Bishop Bacani officiated the mass wedding ceremony assisted by other priests. Romance pervaded the air, bringing smiles to the young and old alike who stood shoulder to shoulder, seemingly unaffected by the cool December breeze.
• El Shaddai 13th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 58th birthday at the PNCC-PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City on August 23 to 24, His Eminence, Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez, Most Rev. Naval Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Bishop Bacani, and some Reverend Fathers and Spiritual Directors of the Foundation for local and overseas chapters attended the affair. A number of public officials also graced the occasion. Brother Mike presented the "Blessed Are the Peacemakers" Award to President Fidel V. Ramos, the guest of honor
• In spite of heavy rains, close to 600,000 people trooped to the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, September 21, 1997  to join a prayer rally for peace and unity called by His Eminence Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and former president Corazon C. Aquino. The rally was held in protest of move to amend the Constitution before the May 11, 1998 national elections. The attendees were from the different NGOs, civic, business and political groups, Catholic religious organization, and non-Catholic groups. This include the thousands of flaglet-bearing members of the Foundation. Representatives of the different groups in attendance signed a covenant against charter change. An ecumenical invocation was held with leaders from Islam, Protestant and other sect groups participating. Brother Mike represented the Catholic Church. As a result of the rally, the move for charter change in then congress were stopped as called by former president Fidel Ramos.
• El Shaddai 15th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 60th birthday celebration at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila with 1,200,000 people on August 20, 1999 a show of force by the Joseph Estrada camp in answer to the anti-Estrada rally in Ayala with a turnout of 50,000 people. Before the noon of August 20, in observance of Bro. Mike's birthday, the attendees feasted on roasted chickens, pigs and calves as a gift of the family and friends for his natal day. Early in the afternoon, the crowd jubilantly caught with their umbrellas inverted thousands of miracle-souvenir handkerchiefs thrown into the air from several helicopters. A thanksgiving prayer was offered by Bro. Mike for his birthday and for the anniversary of the Foundation. He also led the congregation in prayer for their prayer-requests, which were tied to balloons and released to the air at the signal of Bro. Mike. His Excellency, President Joseph E. Estrada, the guest of honor in the occasion, gave his greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with First Lady Eloisa Ejercito Estrada, MD. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Blas Ople; several congressmen led by House Speaker Manny Villar; and friends of Bro. Mike from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector. A Thanksgiving Mass was led by His Eminence Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez of the Vatican City, together with Bishop Bacani; Very Rev. Msgrs. Mariano T. Balbago Jr. of Antipolo Diocese and Mario A. Castillo; and Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual and Rev. Fr. Sanny de Claro, spiritual directors of the Foundation. Joining them also were several spiritual directors from the international chapters of the Foundation namely Reverend Fathers Bernard J. Nolan of Brisbane, Australia; Leo E. Steinbock of L.A., Ca., USA; and Thomas Kawamura of Tokyo, Japan, as well as from the Philippines namely, Dwight de Jesus; Remigio Mendoza of Mabini, Batangas; Manheim Abellana, SDB; Eligio Santos of San Ildefonso Parish, Makati; and Stephen Punnakal and Victor Maung Thit of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Malate, Manila. Highlighting the Mass was the mass wedding of 50 couple who had been living together for a long time without the blessing of the Church. They decided to get married for they had known through their listening of the Word over DWXI (1314 kHz) AM, that they are living against the will of God, for it is written in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "...Do not be deceived: Neither the sexual immoral...nor adulterers...will inherit the Kingdom of God." After the Mass, a candlelight ceremony was held followed by the delivery of the healing message of Bro. Mike.
• Launching of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga campaign of the government, August 28, 1999. Quirino Grandstand with 500,000 people
• El Shaddai and Iglesia ni Cristo’s National Day of Prayer and Fasting Against All Adversities, thousands of people from different sects and religions in the Philippines joined together for the affair held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila in support of President Joseph Estrada on November 13, 1999, in accordance with Executive Order No. 169 signed by the President, complementing Presidential Proclamation No. 47, declaring the second Saturday of November of every year. Reverend Ephraim Perez and Bro. Boy Baldomaro of the New Hope of Life Church, Baliuag, Bulacan led the congregation in the singing of praise and worship songs. Bishop Efraim M. Tendero of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCES) exhorted the crowd about the importance of prayer. Reverend Reynaldo Santillana of the Christian Ministers Council of Bulacan led the invocation. This was followed by the offering of prayers of representatives of the different sects and religions, namely, Bro. Joe Villanueva of the Mission to All the World Ministry; Rev. Fred Magbanua of the Christian Leaders Alliance of the Philippines (CLAP); Imam Abdul Bashit Kareem Bantuas of the Muslim community; Rev. Kenneth Aguillera of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP); Minister Adriel Obar Meimban, Ph.D. of the Iglesia ni Cristo; Most Rev. Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. of the Catholic Church; and Bro. Bert Lotilla of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship. Their prayers for the nation were as follows: peace and unity, healing of the nation, lasting peace and prosperity in Mindanao, productive collaboration between the media and the government, eradication of poverty and graft and corruption in the public service, and bountiful harvest and improvement of economic growth and employment. A candlelight ceremony was held after the special message and prayer of the President. The congregation led by Bro. Mike joined together in the recitation of the "Our Father". He also prayed for unity among Filipinos amidst adversities and for progressive development of the nation.
• El Shaddai’s National Day of Prayer for President Joseph Estrada, November 11, 2000. Quirino Grandstand, 1.2 million, in answer to the anti-Estrada EDSA Shrine prayer rally of November 4 with a turnout of 15,000
• EDSA People Power 2, EDSA Shrine, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City on January 17 to 20, 2001. Low of 50,000 and peak of 200,000.
• Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva's 67th birthday party at the Manila Hotel and its 35th anniversary celebration at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila on October 25 to 26, 2013 with 10 million people packed the 61-hectare national park and adjacent streets (Roxas Boulevard, United Nations Avenue, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Padre Burgos Drive, Port Area District and Jones Bridge), a show of force by the Aquino III camp in answer to the anti-Aquino Pork Barrel rally in Ayala Avenue, Makati City with a turnout of 50,000. This year's celebration theme was "Revolution of Righteousness".
• Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva's 68th birthday party at the Manila Hotel and its 36th anniversary celebration at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila on October 24 to 25, 2014 with 10 million people packed the 61-hectare national park and adjacent streets (Roxas Boulevard, United Nations Avenue, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Padre Burgos Drive, Port Area District and Jones Bridge), a show of force by the Aquino III camp in answer to the anti-Aquino Charter Change and Pork Barrel rally in Ayala Avenue, Makati City with a turnout of 50,000. This year's celebration theme was "Pursue Peace and Be Holy, Without which No One Can See God" (Hebrews 12:14). Most of the attendees were already in the venue days before the overnight affair beamed live nationwide via satellite over GMA-7, ABS-CBN-2, PTV-4, TV5, 9TV, GMA News TV-11, IBC-13, ABS-CBN Sports+Action 23. Before the noon of October 6, in observance of Bro. Eddie's birthday, the attendees feasted on roasted chickens, pigs and calves as a gift of the family and friends for his natal day celebration. Early in the afternoon, the crowd jubilantly caught with their umbrellas inverted thousands of miracle-souvenir handkerchiefs thrown into the air from several helicopters. A thanksgiving prayer was offered by Bro. Eddie for his birthday party and for the anniversary celebration of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide. He also led the congregation in prayer for their prayer-requests, which were tied to balloons and released to the air at the signal of Bro. Eddie. During the 36th Anniversary Celebration last October 24, 2014, His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III, the guest of honor in the occasion, gave his greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with the members of the Aquino Family. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Franklin Drilon; several congressmen led by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.; and friends of Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector. 
• Overnight Vigil and Closing Liturgy of the Apostolic and State Visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines on January 17 to 18, 2015 with 10 million people packed the 61-hectare national park and adjacent streets (Roxas Boulevard, United Nations Avenue, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Padre Burgos Drive, Port Area District and Jones Bridge). It also dwarfed the million or so who faced down tanks and guns in the February 22 to 25, 1986 EDSA People Power uprising that toppled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos from power. And the two million who rallied behind Corazon Aquino at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park after the February 7, 1986 snap presidential elections. People started massing at the Rizal Park as early as midnight Friday, swelling the one-million crowd that attended the celebration's annual sunset overnight vigil at the 61-hectare Rizal Park. The throng grew swiftly as more and more people arrived early yesterday morning, January 17. Among those who came for the annual religious celebration were residents from barangays in the cities and municipalities in provinces, some coming from as far north as Laoag.